Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Honda Odyssey owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My 2012 Honda Odyssey brake suddenly failed today. I felt the brake paddle was very soft and had to push all the way to the floor and the vehicle would slowly stop. I had to push very fast repeatedly to feel enough pressure on the paddle to stop the vehicle quickly. There is no indications on the instrument panel indicating the failure at all. My car is maintained regularly.
My break petal went soft - as in goes all the way to the floor - it has been looked at by 2 different mechanics - no warning lights, no sounds, just all of a sudden no breaks - it has all new break pads, master cylinder, rotors, etc... the break petal is as soft as can be. I can not stop suddenly.
Without warning the breaks will not work. You have to push them all the way down and it sometimes lurches forward after breaking. I've had it looked at and they can find nothing wrong. This is a serious problem and needs recalled.
When applying the brake fro my 2012 Honda Odyssey I feel my steering shaking that may cause an issue while driving on Freeway. I have done the wheel balancing on new tires again too... But still i fee the same.
My wife's 2012 Odyssey touring was parked on the ramp to our garage, with the emergency brake on. I released the brake and applied slight pressure to the accelerator with the car in reverse gear: it lurched backward and the brake could not stop it, though a neighbor's garage did. When I drove it forward to park it the car sped forward thirty feet or so before it obeyed the brake. The garage will need a new door -- at least -- but the car suffered minor damage, except that the taillights will not go off.
After making a right turn after a full stop, I accelerated to about 5 MPH and was about to park (less than 20ft from stop sign) when the vehicle suddenly accelerated to a high speed. I was unable to break after repeatedly applying pressure on the brake pedal. I was unable to avoid a head on collision. Airbags deployed including the side bags next to my 6 year old son. The vehicle was purchased 2 months ago from grossinger Honda on western ave. In chicago, a certified Honda dealer.
While moving approximately 65 MPH down a moderate grade, I applied light to moderate braking. I immediately felt a vibration in the front end and shaking in the steering wheel. This vibration and shaking only occurred while applying the brakes. The sensation was severe enough to question stability of the vehicle so I eventually visited the dealership and they advised me that the front rotors would need to be replaced. It seems premature for the rotors to need replacement after only 29,000 miles, particularly considering that the original brake pads themselves have plenty of life left. My concern for my family's safety compelled me to spend over $200 to have the dealership replace the rotors (at their recommendation) with newly designed Honda rotors. …
Honda Odyssey are not manufacturing or fabricating quality products. I had same issue with my 2012 Honda Odyssey ex as mentioned in the link below http://www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/Odyssey/2013/brakes/service_brakes.shtml brakes vibrate excessively when brake applied, and when at legal speeds of 60 or 70 vehicle is sometimes hard to control. My mechanics that work on these vehicles and after searching the web it is my understanding that the disc design does not allow for the heat from braking to dissipate thus warping the disc. My mechanic tried to fix it by surfacing your original disc but found that due to the casting or fabrication issues surfacing was not possible, and revealing rough ring surfaces again and again after repeated resurfacing. …
The original factory front brake rotors in this vehicle (and all others of the same model year) do not cool adequately under normal use, which can cause the vehicle to vibrate dramatically when braking. Two separate dealers claim that is is "not a safety hazard," but the vibration was so bad that normal drivers of this vehicle feared for loss of control and/or possible damage to the brake system. A redesigned brake rotor is available from the manufacturer, although, in spite of the obvious correction of a prior design defect, the new rotors are not covered by any warranty provision for replacement. We have replaced the front rotors and brake pads at a cost of $755.18. In the opinion of this writer, every Odyssey owner for this model year ought to do the same. …
There was a check engine light and upon inspection, Honda notified me that the piston ring replacement was necessary and that Honda extended the warranty to 100K miles. The problem was the timing belt and few other parts needed to be replaced because they would get damaged during this warranty repair. Honda refused to pay for the timing belt replacement and made me pay almost $800.00 in parts and labor. 2. My car stared to vibrate every time I braked from about 15K miles. I took it in and instead of making the proper repairs the service center had the front rotors re-surfaced 3 times. The problem kept on coming back because the front rotors are undersized for the vehicle. I had to buy my own front rotors from a generic maker along with pads to correct the problem. It cost me $350 for parts and $200 at Honda service center to repair it properly. 3. …
Brake complaints in other Odyssey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2012 Honda Odyssey?
NHTSA has 60 complaints about the brakes of the 2012 Honda Odyssey, 24% of the model year's 245 complaints. The component named most often is disc › rotor (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Honda Odyssey brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2012 Honda Odyssey, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Honda Odyssey brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 22,000 miles, and 57% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.